NROL-97
Falcon Heavy. Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
Launch Successful
- Recovery
- B1072: Return to Launch Site, Landing Zone 2, successful
- B1104: Return to Launch Site, Landing Zone 1, successful
- B1106: Expended, not recovered
2 Landed, 1 Expended
- Your Time
- UTC
- At the Pad
NROL-97
SpaceX
Mission
Government/Top Secret, Unknown
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
Countdown Sequence
Planned offsets from T-0; confirmations link to their sources
Sequence Ended · Success
- T−00:53:00
GO for Prop Load
Launch director verifies go for propellant load
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:50:00
Stage 1 Propellant Load
Start of propellant loading in the first stage
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:45:00
Stage 1 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:35:00
Stage 2 Propellant Load
Start of propellant loading in the second stage
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:18:30
Stage 2 LOX Load
Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:07:00
Engine Chill
Start of engine chilling
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:00:59
Startup
The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:00:45
GO for Launch
Launch director verifies go for launch
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:00:20
Tank Press
Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
Planned Time Elapsed
- T−00:00:06
Ignition
Start of the engine ignition sequence
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:00:00
- T+00:01:09
Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:02:24
SBECO
Cut-off of the side boosters
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:02:27
Boosters Separation
Separation of the side boosters
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:02:31
Boosters Flip
Flip maneuver of the side boosters
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:02:42
Boosters Boostback Burn Startup
Start of the boosters boostback burn
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:03:47
Boosters Boostback Burn Shutdown
End of the boosters boostback burn
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:03:51
MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:03:54
Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:04:00
SES-1
First start of the second engine
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:04:17
Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:06:29
Boosters Entry Burn Startup
Start of the boosters atmospheric entry burn
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:06:37
Boosters Entry Burn Shutdown
End of the boosters atmospheric entry burn
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:07:30
Boosters Landing Burn
Start of the boosters landing burn
Planned Time Elapsed
- T+00:07:47
Boosters Landing
Landing of the boosters
Planned Time Elapsed
Change Log
Detected changes and source updates
Launch success.
Payload deployed.
Liftoff.
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Tweaked T-0.
Updated launch weather, 80% GO.
Updated launch weather, 60% GO.
GO for launch.
NET early fall 2026 (launch identity per https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55784.msg2715269#msg2715269; booster assignments per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5OJk1FuEKg).
Updated launch vehicle configuration.
Adding launch, year TBD